The Beaver Manifesto Conservation, Conflict, and the Future of Wetlands

About this book

A compelling book that explores the conflict between beavers and human development, urging us to rethink our approach to environmental management.

In this intriguing little book, Glynnis Hood tells the remarkable story of beavers – nature's architects and a keystone species that has survived ice ages, droughts, the fur trade, and urbanisation. Known for creating and maintaining healthy aquatic ecosystems, beavers are beloved by conservationists but often clash with urban and industrial development. This conflict highlights a deep-rooted tension in how we view and manage nature.

Hood examines why the beaver, one of the few species that refuses to conform to human rules, is at odds with our desire to control the environment. Despite their role in enriching biodiversity and supporting ecosystems, beavers are often seen as a "problem". Hood calls for a fundamental shift in how we approach environmental conflicts – especially those involving wildlife like the beaver.

Through engaging research and insightful analysis, The Beaver Manifesto challenges readers to rethink our relationship with the environment. Should we keep fighting nature's designs, or is it time to adapt to its needs? With fresh perspectives on conservation and stewardship, this book is essential for anyone interested in environmental science, natural history, and wildlife protection. It offers a powerful exploration of how we can learn from beavers and reshape our approach to living with nature.

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Biography

Glynnis Hood grew up in the Creston Valley in southeastern British Columbia. She spent her summers in little boats and running barefoot along the shores of Kootenay Lake. Now summers are spent in chest waders and canoes, her winters on snowshoes and skis. For much of her adult life, she worked in various protected areas, from Canada’s west coast to the mountains of BC and Alberta, to the Subarctic, and finally the southern boreal forest of central Alberta. She has always loved critters with eyelashes, and she completed a PhD in biological sciences at the University of Alberta on wildlife and wetland ecology. She is now a professor of environmental science at the University’s Augustana campus. Her closest neighbours are a family of beavers. She is the author of the children's picture book, A Cabin Christmas, as well as the books The Beaver Manifesto, and Semi-Aquatic Mammals: Ecology and Biology. Glynnis lives in Camrose, Alberta.